Roller blind for curved windows and the like



June 4, 1963 Filed Feb. 3, 1960 s. P. WINN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE! LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 4,1963 s. P. WINN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 3, 1960 v 5Sheets-Sheet 2 June 4, 1963 s. P. WlNN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 3, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 3 J1me 1963 s. P. WlNN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1960 5SheetsSheet 4 E j I! \x June 4, 1963 Filed Feb. 5, 1960 s. P. WINN3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I UnitedStates Patent 3,092,174 ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKEStanley Pearson Winn, Torrens Park, South Australia, Australia FiledFeb. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 6,539 Claims priority, application Australia Feb.6, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 160-262) This invention relates to a roller blindfor curved windows and the like and in particular it relates to a rollerblind of a type which would be suitable for shading the upper portion ofa curved wind-shield of a motor vehicle.

It is known to prevent .glare in motor vehicles by the use ofaccessories which are commonly known as sun vizors, these being fittedto the outer portion of a vehicle above the windshield. However, theseare usually of a fixed nature and are not adaptable to the varyingconditions under which the vehicle is driven. They interfere with thestreamlining of a vehicle, and sometimes give rise to wind noise.

It is the main object of this invention to disclose a means whereby aroller blind may be used for the purpose of shading around a curvedwindshield, and if desired for some distance back at both ends of thewindshield. One of the major problems associated with attempting tooperate a roller blind around a curve is that there tends to beexcessive lost motion between one end of the operating roller and theother, whether the operating roller is made from a plurality ofcontiguous parts or a single flexible member. It is therefore an objectof this invention to provide a means whereby operation at one end of theroller of a curved blind will cause a similar operation at the other endwithout the lost motion being so great that the blind hangs in anunsightly fashion with one end noticeably lower than the other. Afurther object of this invention is to provide a means whereby aflexible blind is prevented from sideways or front and rear swaying toan excessive degree.

In its simplest form, a roller blind according to this inventioncomprises a curved shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported endto end on said shaft a parallel tongue on each roller slidably andtiltably engaging a wedge-shaped slot in an adjacent roller with aninterference fit a blind of flexible sheet material engaging saidrollers and means to rotate said rollers whereby said bland mayalternatively be raised or lowered.

For the invention to be more clearly understood, it will be described insome detail with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated in theaccompany drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a sectioned perspective viewshowing a blind in the partly drawn position,

FIG. '2 is a perspective view of a flexible sheet material after sewing,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of interconnected rollers,

FIG. 4 shows an alternative to the rollers described in the embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a partly sectioned view of one end of the blind,

'FIG. 6 shows an alternative elevating device, and

FIG. 7 shows a further alternative elevating device.

According to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3,and 5, a shaft 1 of about one-quarter 3,092,174 Patented June 4, 1963inch diameter steel is shaped to the shape of the blind and set into aposition from which the blind may be suspended. The material 2 for theblind 3 is of a flexible nature, and I have found that a. very suitablematerial is a pre-shrunk knit nylon coated with polyvinyl chloride, sucha material possessing the desired life characteristics and the desiredflexibility. Alternatively, terylene polyester fibre material may besubstituted for the nylon material, and similarly coated with polyvinylchloride.

A series of rollers is fed on to the curved shaft 1, the ends of each ofthe rollers 5 being shaped so that they interlock directly with theadjacent rollers. These rollers 5 are arranged with a central hole 6somewhat larger in diameter than the shaft 1 to accommodate anycurvature in the shaft 1. One end of each roller 5 has walls which, asshown in FIGURE 3, are symmetrical about a diametral plane but convergetoward the end of the roller 5 to thereby define a radially extendingslot 7 with a narrow mouth 8, but widening towards the base 9 of theslot 7, while the other end of the roller 5 is provided with a parallelsided tongue 10, the width of which is slightly greater than the widthof the mouth 8 of the slot 7 so that when one roller is placed intoengagement with an adjacent roller, there is aninterference fit which isaccommodated by the resilience of walls of the roller itself, the rollerbeing made from high density polyethylene or polystyrene. Since the fitis an interference fit, it will be seen that any movement at all whichis imparted to one roller to cause it to rotate will correspondinglyrotate the next adjacent roller, and since the outwardly projectingtongue has parallel sides, it will be seen that the rollers may rotateabout intersecting axes by sliding of the tongue within the slot forrelative displacement in one plane or by tilting of the tongue withinthe slot for relative displacement of tongue and groove in a secondplane normal to the first. This arrangement enables the interlockedrollers to negotiate corners of short radii. An alternative arrangementis to produce the rollers 11 as shown in FIG. 4 with identical slots 12at each end, each slot 12 being of cruciform shape, and providing aninterlocking member 13 arranged to fit between adjacent rollers 11, theinterlock ing member 13 having outwardly projecting pins adapted toengage in the slots of two adjacent rollers 11 at the one time, but thisarrangement is much less useful since it allows lost motion betweenadjacent rollers.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sheet of material 2 for the blind 3 afiter sewing,and occupying the same shape as when fitted to the vehicle. The upperedge 15 of the material 2 is folded over and sewn along the seam 16, theshape of the seam 16 including a portion disposed close to the upperedge at the locality of the large radius portion of the curved shaft 1and a portion disposed away from the upper edge at the localities of theshort radii portions of the curved shaft 1, as shown in FIG. 2 toprevent uneven bunching as the blind is raised. The lower edge 17 issimilarly folded and sewn along the seam 18. The upper edge 15 is fixedto the rollers 5 by means of cement, and is prevented from slippingintermediate its ends by means of the projections 20 on the rollers 5.The ends of the lower edge 17 engage over pins 21 on blocks 22, andeyelets 23 engage projections 24 to firmly secure the blind 3 (see FIG.5).

Each of the two end rollers 5 interengages a cylindrical the spur wheels42.

member 26 fitted with a steel tape 27 rolled around it, the'tapes 27each being curved transversely, that is cambered, for the purpose ofrigidity when extended, the free ends 28 of the steel tapes 27 beingsecured to the blocks 22.

These tapes greatly stabilise the blind against movement towards thedrive or sideways movement as a vehicle travels round a corner. orlowered in any of a number of ways. According to this embodiment, a cord30 is engaged around a drum 31, the drum 3-1 being provided with aseries of notches (not shown) adapted to releasably engage a snubbingmember 32 which is urged by means of a compression spring 33 into thenotches. By operating either end of the cord 39 (which may be continuousor in two parts as shown in the drawings), the blind is alternativelyraised or lowered.

A method alternative to the above embodiment which may be used to raiseand lower the blind is shown in FIG. 6, where a handle 35 is coupled bya belt 36 to a bevel pinion 37 which engages a bevel gear 38, thearrangement otherwise being similar to that of FIG. 5. A still furthervariation is illustrated in FIG. 7, where a saddle 38 slides on runners39 and 40, and in so sliding rotates the spiral shaft 41 which transmitsa drive to rollers by 'No snubbing device is necessary when thisarrangement is used.

Brackets 44 are adapted for securing to the roof rails of a vehicle, andthese carry the ends of the shaft 1.

I claim:

1. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curvedshaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported end to end on saidshaft, a tongue with parallel sides on one end of each roller andresilient Walls defining a slot in the other end of each roller, saidresilient walls being disposed symmetrically about a diametral plane butconverging toward the slot mouth whereby each said slot is tapered to bewider at the base than at the mouth, said tongues being engaged eachwithin the mouth of the slot in an adjacent roller, each mouth beingnarrower in its unstressed condition than the tongue it receives,whereby each tongue will be disposed within its corresponding slot withan interference fit thereby deflecting said resilient walls outwardly atthe mouth of the slot, the base of each slot being spaced away from theend of the tongue engaged therein and the ends of adjacent rollers beingspaced away from each other whereby the tongues are both slidable andtiltable Within their engaging slots, a blind of flexible sheet materialengaging said rollers, and means to rotate said rollers whereby saidblind may alternatively be raised or lowered.

2. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curvedshaft, a pair of brackets supporting the ends of said curved shaft, aplurality of rollers interconnected end to end on said shaft, each saidroller being rotatable on said shaft, each said roller being formed withan outstanding tongue with parallel sides on one end, resilient walls onthe other end of each said roller defining a slot therein, the walls ofsaid slot tapering from a narrow mouth to a wide base, each tongue beinginserted in the slot of an adjacent roller, the mouth of each slot inits unstressed condition being narrower than the tongue it receives,whereby each tongue has an interference fit in a slot thereby deflectingsaid resilient walls outwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base ofeach slot being spaced away from the end of the tongue engaged thereinand the ends of adjacent rollers being spaced away from each otherwherer by the tongues are both slidable and tiltable within theirengaging. slots, a cylindrical member in each of said brackets, eachcylindrical member being of larger diameter than the rollers and coupledto a roller for rotational drive, a pair of flexible steel tapesdisposed on one each of said cylindrical members, a pair of blocks, eachsteel tape being of curved shape transversely of its length and en- Theblind 3 may be raised 4 gaging a block at its free end, a blind offlexible sheet material secured at its upper end to at least some ofsaid rollers and secured at its lower end to said blocks, and means toraise and lower said blind.

3. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curvedshaft, means supporting said curved shaft, a plurality of rollersconnected end to end on said shaft, each said roller being rotatable onsaid shaft, each said roller being formed with an outstanding tonguewith parallel sides on one end, resilient walls defining a slot in theother end of each said roller, the walls of said slot tapering from anarrow mouth to a wide base, each tongue being inserted in the slot ofan adjacent roller, the mouth of each slot in its unstressed conditionbeing narrower than the tongue it receives, whereby each tongue has aninterference fit in a slot thereby deflecting said resilient wallsoutwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base of each slot being spacedaway from the end of the tongue engaged therein and the ends of adjacentrollers being spaced away from each other whereby the tongues are bothslidable and tiltable within their engaging slots, a blind of flexiblesheet material. secured at its upper end to some at least of saidrollers, a drum coupled to said rollers for rotational drive, and anoperating cord wound on said drum whereby said drum may be rotated inboth directions thereby transmitting drive to said interconnectedrollers to raise or lower said blind alternatively.

4. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curvedshaft, a pair of brackets supporting the ends of said curved shaft, aplurality of rollers interconnected end to end on'said shaft, each saidroller'being rotatable on said shaft; each said roller being formed withan outstanding tongue with parallel sides on one end, resilient wallsdefining a slot in the other end of each roller, the walls of said slottapering from a narrow mouth to a wide base, each tongue being insertedin the slot of an adjacent roller, the mouth of each slot in itsunstressed condition being narrower than the tongue it receives, wherebyeach tongue has an interference fit in a slot thereby deflecting saidresilient walls outwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base of eachslot being spaced away from the end of the tongue engaged therein andthe ends of adjacent rollers being spaced away from each other wherebythe tongues are both slidable and tiltable within their engaging slots,a cylindrical member on each of said brackets, each cylindrical memberbeing of larger diameter than the rollers and coupled to a roller forrotational drive, a 'pair of flexible steel tapes disposed one on eachof said cylindrical members, a pair of blocks, each tape being of curvedshape transversely of its length and engaging a block at its free end, ablind of flexible sheet material secured at its upper end to some atleast of said rollers and secured at its lower end to said blocks, adrum in one of said brackets coupled to one of said cylindrical membersfor rotational drive, and an operating cord.

wound on said drum whereby said drum may be rotated in both directionsthereby transmitting drive to said interconnected rollers to raise orlower said blind alternatively.

5. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curvedshaft, a plurality of rollers supported end to end on said shaft, atongue on'one end of each roller, the longitudinally extending walls ofthe tongue being parallel to each other, resilient walls defining a slotin the other end of each roller, said resilient walls being disposedsymmetrically about a diametrial plane but converging toward the slotmouth whereby each slot is tapered to be wider at the base than at themonth, said tongues being engaged each within themouth of the slot in anadjacent roller, each mouth being narrower in its unstressed conditionthan the tongue it receives, whereby each tongue will be disposed withinits corresponding slot with an interference fit thereby deflectingsaid-resilient walls outwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base ofeach slot being spaced away from the end of the tongue engaged thereinand the ends of the adjacent rollers being spaced away from each otherwhereby the tongues are both slidable and tiltable within their engagingslots, a lind of flexible sheet material engaging said rollers, means torotate said rollers whereby said blind may alter- 5 natively be raisedor lowered, a cylindrical member coupled to said rollers, and flexiblesteel tapes each secured at its free end to one end of the lower edge ofsaid blind and secured at its other end to the curved surface of saidcylindrical member, the flexible steel tapes being of curved 1O shapetransversely of their length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LauerMar. 6, Burrours Feb. 11, Warner Mar. 13, Poetsch Nov. 30, SchmiedeskampOct. 18, Peteler Oct. 31,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 10,

1. A ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A CURVEDSHAFT, A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED END TO END ON SAIDSHAFT, A TONGUE WITH PARALLEL SIDES ON ONE END OF EACH ROLLER ANDRESILIENT WALLS DEFINING A SLOT IN THE OTHER END OF EACH ROLLER, SAIDRESILIENT WALLS BEING DISPOSED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT A DIAMETRAL PLANE BUTCONVERGING TOWARD THE SLOT MOUTH WHEREBY EACH SAID SLOT IS TAPERED TO BEWIDER AT THE BASE THAN AT THE MOUTH, SAID TONGUES BEING ENGAGED EACHWITHIN THE MOUTH OF THE SLOT IN AN ADJACENT ROLLER, EACH MOUTH BEINGNARROWER IN ITS UNSTRESSED CONDITION THAN THE TONGUE IT RECEIVES,WHEREBY EACH TONGUE WILL BE DISPOSED WITHIN ITS CORRESPONDING SLOT WITHAN INTERFERENCE FIT THEREBY DEFLECTING SAID RESILIENT WALLS OUTWARDLY ATTHE MOUTH OF THE SLOT, THE BASE OF EACH SLOT BEING SPACED AWAY FROM THEEND OF THE TONGUE ENGAGED THEREIN AND THE ENDS OF ADJACENT ROLLERS BEINGSPACED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHEREBY THE TONGUES ARE BOTH SLIDABLE ANDTILTABLE WITHIN THEIR ENGAGING SLOTS, A BLIND OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIALENGAGING SAID ROLLERS, AND MEANS TO ROTATE SAID ROLLERS WHEREBY SAIDBLIND MAY ALTERNATIVELY BE RAISED OR LOWERED.